Enhancing Music Literacy through a Marching Band Training Workshop

Music is an integral part of the educational system of the Philippines and has the objective of developing the significant and unique value brought by music to one’s life. Just as harmony is created in the assonance of notes, so the practice of music in a group produces solidarity, unity of hearts and friendship. However, music literacy has not been given an emphasis in terms of music education. The study is conducted to enhance the music literacy of the students through a marching band training workshop. The participants of the above- mentioned training workshop were the selected musically inclined students of Naga City School of Arts and Trades. There were 25 students who participated in the workshop handling varied instruments. The training incorporated the different basic concepts in music: time signature, rhythm, note reading and playing of musical instruments starting from whole note up to sixteenth note. Based on the evaluation results of the student’s musical performance the training workshop is effective. The result of the study also implied that the training built the students confidence in playing instruments and as observed produce a harmonized sound.

Keywords: Music, Music Literacy, Band Training, Workshop, Musical instruments